How (and Why) to be a Great PIO with P.J. Norwood and Sean Gray

Today, we’re going to talk about a role in the fire department that’s near to my heart: The PIO. The Public Information Officer was the key to my getting information about the department, its people, and the incidents it covered when I was a newsman. But I had to build a relationship with each one before they would trust me. The best PIOs are the ones who recognize that good journalists aren’t out to get them – we just want the best pictures and sound. And solid PIOs are proactive, too, promoting the good that fire departments do on a routine basis. Back again to discuss this are P.J. Norwood, a Deputy Chief Training Officer for the East Haven Connecticut Fire Department, and Sean Gray, a 21-year veteran of the fire service and a lieutenant in the Cobb County Georgia Fire Department.